Customers will now only be able to buy up to three prepaid SIM cards as the Govt tightens security rules.

From April 1, consumers can only buy up to three prepaid SIM cards, a sharp reduction from 10 previously, as the Government tightens its security rules. A central e-registry, which has been in place since 2005, will flag to sellers if a potential buyer already has hit the limit of three SIM cards registered in his name. It is a combined quota across the three local mobile operators - SingTel, StarHub and M1. However, people who already have more than three prepaid SIM cards get to keep them. A prepaid SIM card has to be used at least once every six months or else the line will be cut off by the local telcos, a current practice. The new rule comes amid continued use of prepaid SIM cards as an anonymous channel of communications for unlicensed moneylending, scams and gambling, among other illicit activities, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Infocomm Development Au...